This book delivers exactly what it promises - 256 pages of various increase and decrease methods. If you're looking for patterns, go elsewhere - thereThis book delivers exactly what it promises - 256 pages of various increase and decrease methods. If you're looking for patterns, go elsewhere - there aren't any in this book. But if you're looking for the perfect increase or decrease to feature in your design, this is the perfect go-to reference book. With 43 decrease methods and 36 increase methods, all meticulously described with step-by-step photo tutorials and swatches to showcase the various methods, there is bound to be an increase or decrease type for every situation.

I knew about half of these in advance, and while I perhaps wouldn't consider the knit and purl versions of a decrease / increase type as two different methods, I did appreciate that the book included photo tutorials for both, as sometimes a stitch that comes totally natural in knit stitch will be less intuitive in purl and vice versa.

My favourite part was the chapter on increasing and decreasing for decorative effect however. Increasing and decreasing doesn't have to have a practical function - sometimes it's just for fun! And fun should never be underestimated :)

Like most other reference books, it is not one to be read from A-Z, but perfect for flipping through when working those pesky increases and decreases....more

Should Claudia stay in 7th grade or move back up to 8th? And what's going on with her boyfriend Mark - is he really interested, or should she start loShould Claudia stay in 7th grade or move back up to 8th? And what's going on with her boyfriend Mark - is he really interested, or should she start looking around?

Not the best BSC book, but not the worst either, and very little actual babysitting happening!...more

Fair disclaimer first: I don't usually read graphic novels (although I am starting to branch out), and in fact, this was my first manga ever. While IFair disclaimer first: I don't usually read graphic novels (although I am starting to branch out), and in fact, this was my first manga ever. While I had no problems at all getting used to reading right-to-left, and appreciate that way of staying true to the media, I quickly realized that I am not a fan of these types of drawings. It seemed entirely too cutesy for me.

However, that is personal opinion and definitely not an indication of the quality of the drawings. They were objectively very gorgeous and extremely detailed - even in the lower res of the ARC.

It is, of course, a very simplified and abridged version of Jane Austen's masterpiece (as it would have to be - even at 377 pages!) which unfortunately emphasizes that the plot itself is rather silly and unrealistic, when not clothed in Jane Austen's amazing prose. I did catch myself in thinking, "Sheesh, really?" several times, but of course Po Tse and Stacy King couldn't change the plot, and everything was very true to the book... which makes me wonder if I'd find the book equally silly if I was to reread it now.

But silly or not, I do love P&P, and it was fun to read this different version of it, and it did come across as a true homage to the original. There can be no doubt that both the illustrator and the editor are big fans of the book.

I'd recommend it without hesitation, but as an addition to reading the original - not instead of doing so....more

You can't hide talent. And that also goes for this author, writing under a different pen-name in a completely different genre. The wordsmithery is stiYou can't hide talent. And that also goes for this author, writing under a different pen-name in a completely different genre. The wordsmithery is still there, as is the ability to create engaging characters and wacky situations.

I've put off reading "Lesbian Assassins", as I wasn't sure it could live up to my expectations, being so completely different from what I'm used to from this author. Fortunately, my concerns were unfounded, and I ended up reading the book in two quick sittings. It's ridiculously readable, and I quickly fell in love with the characters.

Looking back at it, I did think that perhaps the climax was just a tad too perfect to be entirely realistic, but it didn't bother me too much, so I'm keeping it at four stars.

I really hope Audrey Faye goes ahead and writes a sequel. I'd love to read more about these charming characters, and am certain we haven't even scratched the surface of their secrets yet....more

I had not previously been aware of Katie Cook's webcomic, "Gronk". That was a mistake, and I am glad this book could remedy that. It is absolutely adoI had not previously been aware of Katie Cook's webcomic, "Gronk". That was a mistake, and I am glad this book could remedy that. It is absolutely adorable, and I love the interactions between Gronk and her (his?) new family.

A 4.5 star review. I'm not quite sure I would go as far as to say it was amazing, but it was really, really, really good!

A random Amazon Kindle dailyA 4.5 star review. I'm not quite sure I would go as far as to say it was amazing, but it was really, really, really good!

A random Amazon Kindle daily deal that turned out to be FAR better than I had ever expected. I had great difficulties putting it down, and finished it in just a few days (would have been faster if I hadn't deemed it perfect commute reading). Well written (or engagingly written, anyway) and lots of action from the very first page.

It did leave a couple of threads hanging, but no more than what is acceptable for the first book in a series (no cliffhangers!) and I'll definitely be checking out more of Jason Brant's books....more

You definitely have to suspend your disbelief in order to read this book. Three teenagers are given the opportunity to go on an expedition to the moonYou definitely have to suspend your disbelief in order to read this book. Three teenagers are given the opportunity to go on an expedition to the moon. Why? Simply to ensure that there's enough interest in the mission that NASA is certain of the funding.

Yeah, right.

But the reason for the mission is never fully explained - even in hindsight. And certainly not in a way that justifies bringing three kids along.

And that is just the beginning of the MANY questions that are left unanswered. Such as:- What was in Sander's letter?- What happened to Simone?- Who on earth was responsible for the log?- What is Priority DP7?

... and that's just the ones I can mention without including any spoilers!

The book was billed as horror, but while I certainly agree that parts of it were creepy as anything, as a whole it was entirely too unrealistic to be all that spooky. And due to the many unanswered questions (see above) I was left with a feeling of frustration rather than suspense. But it certainly tried really hard (too hard, perhaps?), and I have a feeling that if I was less annoyed with threads left hanging and open endings, I might have gotten more caught up in the creepiness of the novel....more

I didn't recognize the blurb about the book, but hadn't gotten very far into it before I discovered that I'd actually read this one ages go, and had jI didn't recognize the blurb about the book, but hadn't gotten very far into it before I discovered that I'd actually read this one ages go, and had just forgotten pretty much everything about it! Never mind, it was still as satisfying a read as I had expected, even though I have the same issue with it now, as when I first read it 20'ish years ago -- it's much too short! But if I recall correctly, that's my problem with many of John Marsden's books - I want to know what happens next, after the final line.

The book itself is pretty traditional YA, but I'd gotten hold of an audio version of it (from audible.co.uk) narrated by Kate Hosking, who has the most amazing Australian accent, and made the book a delight to listen to. Very fitting to have an Australian narrator for an Australian book, but it was an extra touch I hadn't expected, and which just added to the charm for me. In fact, I ended up finishing the book in just one day, breaking up the listening to just two sittings.

I had no idea it was the first in a series though, and will have to see if I can get hold of the others....more

I was surprised by how much I liked this book, and especially by how relateable I found it. As an "old married woman" one could perhaps claim that I aI was surprised by how much I liked this book, and especially by how relateable I found it. As an "old married woman" one could perhaps claim that I am not the intended target audience of this book, but even so I discovered that Kate Hurley had words of wisdom for me as well, and I found myself highlighting passages all over the place.

Because in the end, Kate Hurley's book is about "hope deferred" (Proverbs 13:12). For Kate Hurley, Cupid turned out to be a procrastinator. Others may be waiting on the stork, better health, a house, a job or any other milestone event. The "hopes" are different, but the way we can chose to respond and react really isn't, in the end.

"Cupid is a Procrastinator" is a refreshingly honest take on the issue of singleness, that doesn't offer platitudes ("Just wait! It'll happen when you least expect it!") but dares broach the subject of what to do if it never happens, and how to live a fulfilling life, even with a "hope deferred".

But clearly I wasn't terribly impressed. This book has been compared to "The Hunger Games" in several revA 2.5 star review, but I decided to round up.

But clearly I wasn't terribly impressed. This book has been compared to "The Hunger Games" in several reviews, which I don't think is entirely fair. Firstly because apart from the fact that the main players may end up having to kill each other, the plots are nothing alike otherwise (which is evident just in that "may" in my previous sentence); and secondly because "The Hunger Games" is just so much better! ;)

I liked the plot well enough, and in the right hands, I would probably really have enjoyed the book, but unfortunately I didn't care for the writing style at all. For some odd reason James Frey chose not to use indentations at all, which took some getting used to, and there were 73 end notes throughout the book, all referencing some goo.gl link or the other. I tried checking out the first 3-4 of them, but they seemed to have absolutely no relevance to the plot, so I just dropped them after that. They served no purpose other than to annoy me.

Mostly the book could have done with a good editor. It was really slow moving in places, and I think I'd have liked it a lot more if it had been a complete story in itself, rather than the first book in a series.

I doubt I'll be reading the sequels. While I did like Sarah and some of the other characters, as a whole I just don't care enough....more